“Do you have anything to say for yourself, Baron Barlier?” I said.
Rae, Lilly, and I were at the Barlier estate, sitting across from Baron Patrice Barlier in the parlor. We’d shown him our evidence of his human trafficking, and now he stared at his feet, speechless.
“Can we take your silence as an admission of guilt?” Rae said. “I see no chance you could argue your innocence at this point.”
“W-we’re prepared to lessen your punishment if you cooperate. Please come clean and work with us,” Lilly said.
Rae and Lilly played carrot and stick. Most nobles would fold at this point, but Patrice remained silent.
“Though they say silence is golden…I do not think that applies here, and I’m sure you’re aware of that yourself,” I said. He remained silent.
Rae said, “We have evidence the human trafficking was done within your territory. As things stand, you’ll be taking all the blame.”
Lilly said, “You don’t want that, do you? If you don’t lessen the punishment, your wife and Lady Pepi—”
“There’s nothing I can say to defend myself,” he flatly interrupted.
“Pardon?” I asked.
“I admit my crimes. But I planned it all alone. I’m willing to accept whatever punishment awaits.” He kept his head bowed so we couldn’t see his expression. His voice, while weak, showed he was resigned to his fate.
“Even if Pepi and your wife are punished alongside you?” I asked.
“It pains me to see them dragged into this, but yes. I’ll likely be executed, and House Barlier ruined.”
“Yes, that is the most probable outcome.”
“They will likely experience much hardship…but this way is for the best.” His voice had a tremble to it. He was well known for being a cowardly man, so the knowledge that the long Barlier line would come to an end, coupled with his impending execution, undoubtedly shook him. And yet, he was obstinately refusing to give up any information on his collaborator. I was at a loss as to what to do.
Then suddenly, the door swung violently open.
“Father!” Pepi appeared. She seemed furious, probably because she’d been eavesdropping on our conversation. The room should have been soundproofed, though. How could she have heard us? No—I suppose that didn’t matter right then.
She stormed up to her father, then grabbed him by the shoulders. “Just tell them, Father! Tell them everything! Tell them it was Marquess Achard who told you to do everything!”
“That’s enough, Pepi.” Even with his daughter shouting at him, Patrice kept his head down.
“This isn’t right! Why do you have to bear all the blame alone?! They said they’ll reduce your sentence if you cooperate, didn’t they?! Then why not just tell them ev—”
“I said that’s enough!” He raised his voice, interrupting his daughter. “I have nothing to tell them. Let me bear the blame alone.”
“Father…but why?”
“Lady Claire, thank you for being a good friend to my daughter. It is a shame things had to end this way.”
“Baron Barlier…are you truly fine with this?”
“I am.” He lifted his head, revealing the face of a man who had made up his mind.
“Father…Father, you fool!” Pepi fell to her knees in tears.
The sight was difficult to endure, but it was my duty to do so. Patrice had made up his mind and would not budge. We had no choice but to give up on collecting evidence against Clément and instead arrest Patrice.
“Don’t be too harsh on him, Lady Pepi. Your father is keeping his mouth shut for you and your mother’s sake,” a soft voice suddenly said. I looked toward the doorway and saw an unexpected face.
“Master Kristoff?”
“Hello, Lady Claire. Mind holding off on the arrest a bit? I’ll explain what’s going on.” Kristoff was holding on to a servant. Sensing something was up, Rae took over restraining the man for Kristoff, who then walked unhurriedly over to Pepi, lifting her up and setting her gently next to her father.
“What do you mean, Master Kristoff? Is my father being threatened?” Pepi asked.
“Indeed he is, and by none other than my very own father Clément. He’s threatened to hurt you and your mother if your father doesn’t obey him.”
Pepi’s eyes went wide with shock. She looked at her father, next to her, and he hung his head once more, trembling slightly.
“It makes sense when you really think about it, doesn’t it? I mean, why else would a man famous for his timidness partake in such a grand crime?” Kristoff said.
“I did think it was strange,” I said. “There was certainly no reason for him to take such a risk.”
I’d known Patrice for about as long as I’d known Pepi. By all accounts, he was not the type to do something this audacious.
“It’s all part of my father’s schemes. Baron Barlier shoulders all the risk while my father reaps all the rewards. Despicable, really. I’m ashamed I’m even related to him.” Kristoff’s tone and expression were soft, but his words were scathing. “That servant there works for my father. He’s been ordered to kill Pepi and Madam Barlier in the event Baron Barlier sells my father out.”
“I can’t believe it…” Pepi said.
“It’s the truth. Your father wouldn’t be so tight-lipped, otherwise.”
I did think such underhanded actions seemed like something Clément might do.
“Your father is really a wonderful man, Lady Pepi,” Kristoff continued. “He tried his hardest to lessen the number of people being trafficked, despite his family being held hostage. He and I even worked to secretly release people.”
“He did…?”
“Indeed, but that’s not all. Baron Barlier did all he could to put a stop to my father. The newspaper article on human trafficking that surfaced was his doing. Isn’t that right, sir? Your father is by no means a bad man. Please, be proud of him.”
Pepi looked up at her father with questioning eyes. He finally broke his silence and said, “Pepi…I’m sorry for not telling you a thing until now.”
“F-Father…” She clung to him and broke down in tears, this time out of the relief of knowing her father was innocent.
“Is it all right for you to be saying all this, Master Kristoff? You’ve essentially confessed your own involvement in the crimes,” Rae said.
“It’s fine. It’s high time my father paid the piper. If anything, I wish I could’ve come clean sooner.”
“Thank you for your cooperation, Master Kristoff,” I said.
“Not at all. I’m sorry for all the trouble we’ve caused you. Baron Barlier…could you do the honors?”
“Yes, of course.” Patrice gently peeled Pepi off him and stood up to leave the room. He soon returned clutching a bundle of papers. “I have here proof that Marquess Achard had a hand in the human trafficking, as well as the records of the deals.”
“Not even my father can talk his way out of punishment with that evidence,” Kristoff said.
“I prepared this in the hope that a day like this would come. I entrust this to you, Lady Claire,” Patrice said.
“Thank you. I swear I’ll see to it that Marquess Achard meets his comeuppance.” I accepted the documents from him. They recorded every act of human trafficking that had been committed in excruciating detail.
“My father is a poor judge of character, it seems,” Kristoff said. “To think he’d try and frame Baron Barlier, of all people.”
“Indeed. He should have known cowards like me always make preparations for the what-ifs.”
“A real coward wouldn’t have shown the courage you have.”
“Ah, well. I suppose people can be full of surprises.”
That was a line I’d heard Pepi say from time to time.
“Thank you for all your help, Baron Barlier, Master Kristoff. I do believe this will be enough to corner Marquess Achard. Rae, Cardinal Lilly, it seems this is finally checkmate.”
“Indeed. Let’s give it our best, Miss Claire.”
“Y-yeah!”